A NURSE told a hospital consultant "you are going to die" in an abusive e-mail, after wrongly claiming he had been involved in a plot to sack him, a hearing was told.

John Adams-Hughes, 49, a nurse at Basildon Hospital, allegedly left Dr Michael Imana feeling "embarrassed and humiliated" after sending a string of malicious e-mails following his dismissal.

Adams-Hughes, from Aveley, also circulated messages to other members of staff. In them, he branded the respected medic an "incompetent bully" and "disgusting pervert," the Nursing and Midwifery Council hearing was told.

In one message, he allegedly told Dr Imana: "Remember you are going to die and Satan's little demons are sharpening their pitchforks."

Adams-Hughes's behaviour sparked a police investigation after Dr Imana contacted the police to report he had been sent abusive e-mails.

Rosemarie Paul, of the Nursing and Midwifery Council, said: "Having been dismissed from the trust, it is our case that he sent a number of inappropriate e-mails to members of staff at the hospital.

"These included Michael Imana, a consultant in Accident and Emergency."

She said Dr Imana played no part in the disciplinary process when Adams-Hughes had been sacked, and that staff who received the e-mails were left upset.

The hearing, taking place in London, was also told Adams-Hughes allegedly breached data protection laws to access confidential information about a patient and his next of kin.

It is also claimed he flouted strict orders not to return to the hospital premises following his suspension. Miss Paul said: "He accessed the system for purposes which were inappropriate and at odds with the trusts information security policy.

"He should have been familiar with this policy in his role as project nurse, and his responsibility for teaching people about the data protection act."

Adams-Hughes denies sending the e-mails, inappropriately accessing records and breaching the terms of his suspension.

The hearing continues.